Inter-Radio Access Technology Measurement System and Method

ABSTRACT

A network access device is provided with one or more processors configured for macrotechnology-based transmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions, wherein at least one of the gaps is used by the multi-mode user equipment for measurement of a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/271,945 filed on Oct. 12, 2011 by Zhijun Cai, et al. entitled,“Inter-Radio Access Technology Measurement System and Method”(32781-US-CNT; 4214-03908) which is a continuation of and claimspriority to U.S. Pat. No. 8,089,933 issued on Jan. 3, 2012 entitled“Inter-Radio Access Technology Measurement System and Method”(32781-US-PAT; 4214-03900) which are incorporated by reference herein asif reproduced in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Easily transportable devices with wireless telecommunicationscapabilities, such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants,handheld computers, and similar devices, will be referred to herein asuser equipment (UE). A communications connection between two UEs can bereferred to as a call or a session.

As telecommunications technology has evolved, more advanced equipmenthas been introduced that can provide services that were not possiblepreviously. This advanced equipment might include, for example, anEnhanced Node B (ENB) rather than a base station or other systems anddevices that are more highly evolved than the equivalent equipment in atraditional wireless telecommunications system. Such advanced or nextgeneration equipment may be referred to herein as long-term evolution(LTE) equipment.

In traditional wireless telecommunications systems, transmissionequipment in a base station transmits signals throughout a geographicregion known as a cell. For LTE and other advanced equipment, the regionin which a UE can gain access to a telecommunications network might bereferred to by a different name, such as a hot spot. The term “cell”will be used herein to refer to any region in which a UE can gain accessto a telecommunications network, regardless of the type of UE andregardless of whether the region is a traditional cell, a region servedby LTE equipment such as an ENB, or some other region or location inwhich wireless telecommunications services are available.

Different UEs might use different types of radio access technology (RAT)to access a telecommunications network. Some UEs, which can be referredto as multi-domain UEs or multi-mode UEs, are capable of communicatingusing more than one RAT. For example, multi-mode UEs may include UEsthat can obtain service from at least one mode of UMTS (Universal MobileTelecommunications System), and one or more different systems such asGSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) bands or other radiosystems. As defined herein, multi-mode UEs may be of any various type ofmulti-mode UE as defined or provided in 3GPP (3^(rd) GenerationPartnership Project), Technical Specification Group (TSG) Terminals,Multi-Mode UE Issues, Categories, Principles, and Procedures (3G TR21.910), which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.Often examples of RATs or of network technologies that might usedifferent types of RATs include Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA2000), UTRAN (UTMS Terrestrial Radio Access Network), GSM, GSM EDGERadio Access Network (GERAN), Generic Access Network (GAN), WirelessFidelity (WiFi), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), General PacketRadio Service (GPRS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX), 1× Evolution-Data Optimized (1× EV-DO), High-Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA), Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology (DECT), andHigh Rate Packet Data (HRPD). Other RATs or other network technologiesbased on these RATs may be familiar to one of skill in the art.

Some technologies, such as GSM and CDMA, may be publicly licensed andregulated and serve cells that cover large geographic areas. Suchtechnologies will be referred to herein as macrotechnologies and thecells that they serve will be referred to as macrocells. Othertechnologies, such as WiFi and home enhanced node B, may be privatelymanaged and serve cells that cover small spaces such as homes,businesses, or limited publicly accessible areas. Such technologies willbe referred to herein as microtechnologies and the cells that they servewill be referred to as microcells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following brief description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like referencenumerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications system according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a data transmission according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for measuring signal strength accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wireless communications system including a userequipment operable for some of the various embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a user equipment operable for some of thevarious embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a software environment that may be implemented ona user equipment operable for some of the various embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary general-purpose computer system suitablefor implementing the several embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrativeimplementations of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure areprovided below, the disclosed systems and/or methods may be implementedusing any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence.The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrativeimplementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, includingthe exemplary designs and implementations illustrated and describedherein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claimsalong with their full scope of equivalents.

In an embodiment, a multi-mode user equipment is provided. Themulti-mode user equipment includes a processor configured to promotemeasurement of a signal strength of a microtechnology-based networkduring a portion of a macrotechnology-based communication from a networkcomponent to the multi-mode user equipment. The signal strength of themicrotechnology-based network is measured during a portion of themacrotechnology-based communication when no user data is beingtransmitted.

In another embodiment, a method for measuring signal strength isprovided. The method includes creating a gap in a data transmission of amacrotechnology-based communication and measuring a signal strength of amicrotechnology-based network during the gap in the data transmission ofthe macrotechnology-based communication.

In another embodiment, a macrotechnology-based system is provided. Thesystem includes a processor configured to promote macrotechnology-basedtransmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including aplurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or moreof the plurality of data portions, at least one of the gaps used by themulti-mode user equipment for measurement of a signal strength of amicrotechnology-based network.

As a UE that is engaged in a call in a macrocell approaches a microcell,it may become desirable to hand the call off from the macrocell to themicrocell. For example, since a call made via WiFi might be lessexpensive than a call made via GSM, a UE user might wish to have anexisting GSM call handed off to a WiFi network in the user's home uponarriving at the home. Therefore, a UE might need to measure the qualityof the signal it receives from a microcell to determine if a call can behanded off to the microcell. In other situations, microcell signalquality measurements might be made for other reasons.

FIG. 1 illustrates a situation in which such a measurement might occur.A UE 10 is moving from a macrotechnology-based network 20 toward amicrotechnology-based network 30. The macrotechnology-based network 20includes an ENB 40, a traditional base station, or a similar component.Hereinafter, any such macrotechnology-based component will be referredto as the ENB 40. The macrotechnology-based network 20 serves amacrocell 50, and the microtechnology-based network 30 serves amicrocell 60 within the macrocell 50. The UE 10 may be engaged in amacrotechnology-based call via the ENB 40. That is, the ENB 40 istransmitting macrotechnology-based data 100 to the UE 10 or is otherwisein communication with the UE 10.

The ENB 40 and the microtechnology-based network 30 transmits pilotsignals (e.g. beacon in WiFi) that the UE 10 can measure to determinewhether the call should continue through the ENB 40 or should be handedoff to the microtechnology-based network 30. The pilot signal from theENB 40 might extend throughout the macrocell 50, while the pilot signalfrom the microtechnology-based network 30 might cover only the smallarea of the microcell 60. When the UE 10 is a large distance from themicrocell 60, the UE 10 might not be able to detect the pilot signalfrom the microtechnology-based network 30. As the UE 10 approaches themicrocell 60, the strength of the pilot signal from themicrotechnology-based network 30 might increase to a level thatindicates that a handoff of the call from the ENB 40 to themicrotechnology-based network 30 may be possible.

In some cases, the UE 10 might make periodic measurements of thestrength of the pilot signal from the microtechnology-based network 30to determine if that signal is sufficiently strong to allow a handofffrom the ENB 40 to the microtechnology-based network 30. Thesemeasurements might be made regardless of the location of the UE 10. Inother cases, the UE 10 might use techniques that are beyond the scope ofthis disclosure to determine when it is close to themicrotechnology-based network 30 and might make measurements of thestrength of the pilot signal from the microtechnology-based network 30only when it is in the proximity of the microtechnology-based network30.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the data transmission 100 from theENB 40 to the UE 10. The transmission 100 consists of a series datastrings 110 separated by transmission gaps 120 during which no data istransmitted. The data strings 110 might represent portions of a voicecall or of some other type of a user-directed data transmission. Duringthe gaps 120, no user-directed data is transmitted, and the UE 10 canuse the gaps 120 to measure the strengths of the pilot signals that itreceives from other macrocells using different radio technologies orfrequencies. If the UE 10 finds a pilot signal from another macrocellusing different radio technologies or frequencies that is sufficientlystronger than the pilot signal from the current serving ENB 40, aninter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) or inter-frequency handoff to theother macrocell using different radio technologies or frequencies mightbe initiated.

Different macrotechnology RATs might use different patterns of datastrings 110 and transmission gaps 120. For example, GSM might have datastrings 110 and transmission gaps 120 with a first set of sizes, andCDMA might have data strings 110 and transmission gaps 120 with a secondset of sizes. The ENB 40 may specify the gap pattern that is in use inits macrocell 50 and provide this information to the UEs 10 in themacrocell 50. In this way, the UEs 10 can be aware of when the gaps 120will occur and pilot signal strength measurements for other macrocellscan be made.

Such a handoff procedure may not be possible for amacrocell-to-microcell handoff. As mentioned above, a multi-mode UEmight be able to communicate using either a microtechnology or amacrotechnology and thus may be capable of having its calls handed offfrom a macrocell to a microcell. However, some multi-mode UEs may not beable to communicate in both a microtechnology and a macrotechnologysimultaneously. When such a UE performs signal strength measurements todetermine if a macrocell-to-microcell handoff can take place, it may notbe possible for the measurements to occur in the manner described abovefor a macrocell-to-macrocell handoff.

For example, the UE 10 might not be able to perform a measurement of thestrength of a microtechnology-based pilot signal from themicrotechnology-based network 30 while the UE 10 is receiving one of themacrotechnology-based data strings 110, since such a measurement mightrequire the simultaneous reception of the microtechnology-based pilotsignal and the macrotechnology-based data string 110. Similarly, amicrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement might not bepossible in one of the transmission gaps 120, since a measurement of thestrength of a macrotechnology-based pilot signal might be occurring atthat time.

In an embodiment, one of a plurality of techniques might be used toperform a microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement when amacrotechnology-based call is in progress on a multi-mode UE. Thesetechniques, while described as applying to a macrocell-to-microcellhandoff, may also be applicable to a microcell-to-macrocell handoff.

In a first technique, a new common measurement gap pattern is defined.As mentioned above, each different type of RAT has traditionally used adifferent pattern of data strings 110 and transmission gaps 120. In thisembodiment, a gap pattern is defined that can be used by a plurality ofRATs. For example, a first gap 120 in the gap pattern might be dedicatedfor use by a first RAT, a second gap 120 in the gap pattern might bededicated for use by a second RAT, and so on. The UE 10 could then makea microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement in one of thetransmission gaps 120 in this gap pattern and could make amacrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement in another ofthese transmission gaps 120.

In an alternative of this technique, a common gap pattern could bedefined that allows a plurality of pilot signal strength measurements tooccur in each of a plurality of gaps 120. For example, in a first gap120, a first macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement anda second macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement mighttake place. In a second gap 120, a first microtechnology-based pilotsignal strength measurement and a second microtechnology-based pilotsignal strength measurement might take place. Alternatively, in a firstgap 120, a first macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurementand a first microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurementmight take place, and in a second gap 120, a secondmacrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement and a secondmicrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement might takeplace.

In a second technique, one or more of the transmission gaps 120 are usedto perform microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurementsinstead of macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurements.That is, in at least one of the transmission gaps 120, the UE 10 doesnot make a macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement as ittypically would, but instead makes a microtechnology-based pilot signalstrength measurement. For example, when the UE 10 is receiving aGSM-based data transmission 100, the UE 10 might traditionally make aGSM-based pilot signal strength measurement in each of the gaps 120 inthe transmission 100. In the second technique, however, instead of aGSM-based pilot signal strength measurement, the UE 10 might make amicrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement in one or moreof the gaps 120.

In a third technique, the UE 10 requests the ENB 40 to create a newtransmission gap 120 in which a microtechnology-based pilot signalstrength measurement can be made. Traditionally, the ENB 40 assigned thetransmission gaps 120 and the UE 10 made use of the gaps 120 as assignedwithout any input from the UE 10 to the ENB 40. In this embodiment,however, the UE 10 explicitly requests the ENB 40 to assign a gap or agap pattern specifically for use by the UE 10. In the request, the UE 10might specify the parameters of the measurement it wishes to make, suchas the type of RAT for which the UE 10 wishes to make the measurement.Since the ENB 40 controls the scheduling of the data strings 110 andtransmission gaps 120, the ENB 40 can assign the gap 120 as requestedand can then inform the UE 10 as to when the gap 120 is scheduled tooccur. The UE 10 can then use the newly assigned gap 120 to make amicrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement.

In a fourth technique, the UE 10 uses idle time within the data strings110 to make microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurements. Inthe data string portion 110 of the data transmission 100, a techniqueknown as discontinuous reception (DRX) is sometimes used. In DRX, datamay be transmitted from the ENB 40 to the UE 10 during only a smallportion of the data string 110. For example, if one of the data strings110 lasts a relatively longer period of time, such as 20 milliseconds,data may be transmitted for only a relatively shorter portion of thattime, such as a few milliseconds, and the remaining time may be idletime. In an embodiment, the UE 10 can make a microtechnology-based pilotsignal strength measurement during one of these idle periods in one ofthe data strings 110.

In a fifth technique, the size of the transmission gaps 120 is increasedto allow both a microtechnology-based pilot signal strength measurementand a macrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement in asingle transmission gap 120. For example, one of the transmission gaps120 might traditionally have lasted 5 milliseconds, and amacrotechnology-based pilot signal strength measurement might haveoccupied the majority of this 5 millisecond period. In an embodiment,such a transmission gap 120 might be increased to 10 milliseconds, forexample. Of this 10 millisecond period, approximately 5 millisecondsmight still be occupied by the macrotechnology-based pilot signalstrength measurement, and a microtechnology-based pilot signal strengthmeasurement might be made in the remaining 5 milliseconds.

These five techniques can be categorized in different ways. In oneembodiment, the first, second, fourth, and fifth techniques are placedin the same category because these techniques involve the ENB 40assigning gaps 120 for use by the UE 10 without any input from the UE10. The third technique is placed in a different category because thistechnique involves the UE 10 making a request to the ENB 40 for gaps 120in which measurements can be made.

In another embodiment, the first, second, third, and fifth techniquesare placed in the same category because these techniques involve the UE10 making measurements during the transmission gaps 120. The fourthtechnique is placed in a different category because this techniqueinvolves the UE 10 making measurements within the data strings 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a method 300 for measuring thestrength of a pilot signal from a microtechnology-based network. Atblock 310, a gap in a macrotechnology-based data transmission from anetwork component to a UE is created. The gap might be created by thenetwork component assigning the gap without input from the UE, or thegap might be created based on a request from the UE to the networkcomponent. At block 320, the UE performs a microtechnology-based pilotsignal strength measurement in the gap.

As mentioned above, microtechnologies and the cells that they serve maybe referred to as microcells. However microtechnologies may not be theonly technologies capable of providing macro and micro cells, and sometechnologies may be considered capable of being operated in macro andmacro cell configurations. FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless communicationssystem including an embodiment of the UE 10. The UE 10 is operable forimplementing aspects of the disclosure, but the disclosure should not belimited to these implementations. Though illustrated as a mobile phone,the UE 10 may take various forms including a wireless handset, a pager,a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a tabletcomputer, or a laptop computer. Many suitable devices combine some orall of these functions. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the UE 10is not a general purpose computing device like a portable, laptop ortablet computer, but rather is a special-purpose communications devicesuch as a mobile phone, a wireless handset, a pager, a PDA, or atelecommunications device installed in a vehicle. In another embodiment,the UE 10 may be a portable, laptop or other computing device. The UE 10may support specialized activities such as gaming, inventory control,job control, and/or task management functions, and so on.

The UE 10 includes a display 402. The UE 10 also includes atouch-sensitive surface, a keyboard or other input keys generallyreferred as 404 for input by a user. The keyboard may be a full orreduced alphanumeric keyboard such as QWERTY, Dvorak, AZERTY, andsequential types, or a traditional numeric keypad with alphabet lettersassociated with a telephone keypad. The input keys may include atrackwheel, an exit or escape key, a trackball, and other navigationalor functional keys, which may be inwardly depressed to provide furtherinput function. The UE 10 may present options for the user to select,controls for the user to actuate, and/or cursors or other indicators forthe user to direct.

The UE 10 may further accept data entry from the user, including numbersto dial or various parameter values for configuring the operation of theUE 10. The UE 10 may further execute one or more software or firmwareapplications in response to user commands. These applications mayconfigure the UE 10 to perform various customized functions in responseto user interaction. Additionally, the UE 10 may be programmed and/orconfigured over-the-air, for example from a wireless base station, awireless access point, or a peer UE 10.

Among the various applications executable by the UE 10 are a webbrowser, which enables the display 402 to show a web page. The web pagemay be obtained via wireless communications with a wireless networkaccess node, a cell tower, a peer UE 10, or any other wirelesscommunication network or system 400. The network 400 is coupled to awired network 408, such as the Internet. Via the wireless link and thewired network, the UE 10 has access to information on various servers,such as a server 410. The server 410 may provide content that may beshown on the display 402. Alternately, the UE 10 may access the network400 through a peer UE 10 acting as an intermediary, in a relay type orhop type of connection.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the UE 10. While a variety of knowncomponents of UEs 10 are depicted, in an embodiment a subset of thelisted components and/or additional components not listed may beincluded in the UE 10. The UE 10 includes a digital signal processor(DSP) 502 and a memory 504. As shown, the UE 10 may further include anantenna and front end unit 506, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 508,an analog baseband processing unit 510, a microphone 512, an earpiecespeaker 514, a headset port 516, an input/output interface 518, aremovable memory card 520, a universal serial bus (USB) port 522, ashort range wireless communication sub-system 524, an alert 526, akeypad 528, a liquid crystal display (LCD), which may include a touchsensitive surface 530, an LCD controller 532, a charge-coupled device(CCD) camera 534, a camera controller 536, and a global positioningsystem (GPS) sensor 538. In an embodiment, the UE 10 may include anotherkind of display that does not provide a touch sensitive screen. In anembodiment, the DSP 502 may communicate directly with the memory 504without passing through the input/output interface 518.

The DSP 502 or some other form of controller or central processing unitoperates to control the various components of the UE 10 in accordancewith embedded software or firmware stored in memory 504 or stored inmemory contained within the DSP 502 itself. In addition to the embeddedsoftware or firmware, the DSP 502 may execute other applications storedin the memory 504 or made available via information carrier media suchas portable data storage media like the removable memory card 520 or viawired or wireless network communications. The application software maycomprise a compiled set of machine-readable instructions that configurethe DSP 502 to provide the desired functionality, or the applicationsoftware may be high-level software instructions to be processed by aninterpreter or compiler to indirectly configure the DSP 502.

The antenna and front end unit 506 may be provided to convert betweenwireless signals and electrical signals, enabling the UE 10 to send andreceive information from a cellular network or some other availablewireless communications network or from a peer UE 10. In an embodiment,the antenna and front end unit 506 may include multiple antennas tosupport beam forming and/or multiple input multiple output (MIMO)operations. As is known to those skilled in the art, MIMO operations mayprovide spatial diversity which can be used to overcome difficultchannel conditions and/or increase channel throughput. The antenna andfront end unit 506 may include antenna tuning and/or impedance matchingcomponents, RF power amplifiers, and/or low noise amplifiers.

The RF transceiver 508 provides frequency shifting, converting receivedRF signals to baseband and converting baseband transmit signals to RF.In some descriptions a radio transceiver or RF transceiver may beunderstood to include other signal processing functionality such asmodulation/demodulation, coding/decoding, interleaving/deinterleaving,spreading/despreading, inverse fast Fourier transforming (IFFT)/fastFourier transforming (FFT), cyclic prefix appending/removal, and othersignal processing functions. For the purposes of clarity, thedescription here separates the description of this signal processingfrom the RF and/or radio stage and conceptually allocates that signalprocessing to the analog baseband processing unit 510 and/or the DSP 502or other central processing unit. In some embodiments, the RFTransceiver 508, portions of the Antenna and Front End 506, and theanalog baseband processing unit 510 may be combined in one or moreprocessing units and/or application specific integrated circuits(ASICs).

The analog baseband processing unit 510 may provide various analogprocessing of inputs and outputs, for example analog processing ofinputs from the microphone 512 and the headset 516 and outputs to theearpiece 514 and the headset 516. To that end, the analog basebandprocessing unit 510 may have ports for connecting to the built-inmicrophone 512 and the earpiece speaker 514 that enable the UE 10 to beused as a cell phone. The analog baseband processing unit 510 mayfurther include a port for connecting to a headset or other hands-freemicrophone and speaker configuration. The analog baseband processingunit 510 may provide digital-to-analog conversion in one signaldirection and analog-to-digital conversion in the opposing signaldirection. In some embodiments, at least some of the functionality ofthe analog baseband processing unit 510 may be provided by digitalprocessing components, for example by the DSP 502 or by other centralprocessing units.

The DSP 502 may perform modulation/demodulation, coding/decoding,interleaving/deinterleaving, spreading/despreading, inverse fast Fouriertransforming (IFFT)/fast Fourier transforming (FFT), cyclic prefixappending/removal, and other signal processing functions associated withwireless communications. In an embodiment, for example in a codedivision multiple access (CDMA) technology application, for atransmitter function the DSP 502 may perform modulation, coding,interleaving, and spreading, and for a receiver function the DSP 502 mayperform despreading, deinterleaving, decoding, and demodulation. Inanother embodiment, for example in an orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplex access (OFDMA) technology application, for the transmitterfunction the DSP 502 may perform modulation, coding, interleaving,inverse fast Fourier transforming, and cyclic prefix appending, and fora receiver function the DSP 502 may perform cyclic prefix removal, fastFourier transforming, deinterleaving, decoding, and demodulation. Inother wireless technology applications, yet other signal processingfunctions and combinations of signal processing functions may beperformed by the DSP 502.

The DSP 502 may communicate with a wireless network via the analogbaseband processing unit 510. In some embodiments, the communication mayprovide Internet connectivity, enabling a user to gain access to contenton the Internet and to send and receive e-mail or text messages. Theinput/output interface 518 interconnects the DSP 502 and variousmemories and interfaces. The memory 504 and the removable memory card520 may provide software and data to configure the operation of the DSP502. Among the interfaces may be the USB interface 522 and the shortrange wireless communication sub-system 524. The USB interface 522 maybe used to charge the UE 10 and may also enable the UE 10 to function asa peripheral device to exchange information with a personal computer orother computer system. The short range wireless communication sub-system524 may include an infrared port, a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE 802.11compliant wireless interface, or any other short range wirelesscommunication sub-system, which may enable the UE 10 to communicatewirelessly with other nearby mobile devices and/or wireless basestations.

The input/output interface 518 may further connect the DSP 502 to thealert 526 that, when triggered, causes the UE 10 to provide a notice tothe user, for example, by ringing, playing a melody, or vibrating. Thealert 526 may serve as a mechanism for alerting the user to any ofvarious events such as an incoming call, a new text message, and anappointment reminder by silently vibrating, or by playing a specificpre-assigned melody for a particular caller.

The keypad 528 couples to the DSP 502 via the interface 518 to provideone mechanism for the user to make selections, enter information, andotherwise provide input to the UE 10. The keyboard 528 may be a full orreduced alphanumeric keyboard such as QWERTY, Dvorak, AZERTY andsequential types, or a traditional numeric keypad with alphabet lettersassociated with a telephone keypad. The input keys may include atrackwheel, an exit or escape key, a trackball, and other navigationalor functional keys, which may be inwardly depressed to provide furtherinput function. Another input mechanism may be the LCD 530, which mayinclude touch screen capability and also display text and/or graphics tothe user. The LCD controller 532 couples the DSP 502 to the LCD 530.

The CCD camera 534, if equipped, enables the UE 10 to take digitalpictures. The DSP 502 communicates with the CCD camera 534 via thecamera controller 536. In another embodiment, a camera operatingaccording to a technology other than Charge Coupled Device cameras maybe employed. The GPS sensor 538 is coupled to the DSP 502 to decodeglobal positioning system signals, thereby enabling the UE 10 todetermine its position. Various other peripherals may also be includedto provide additional functions, e.g., radio and television reception.

FIG. 6 illustrates a software environment 602 that may be implemented bythe DSP 502. The DSP 502 executes operating system drivers 604 thatprovide a platform from which the rest of the software operates. Theoperating system drivers 604 provide drivers for the wireless devicehardware with standardized interfaces that are accessible to applicationsoftware. The operating system drivers 604 include applicationmanagement services (“AMS”) 606 that transfer control betweenapplications running on the UE 10. Also shown in FIG. 6 are a webbrowser application 608, a media player application 610, and Javaapplets 612. The web browser application 608 configures the UE 10 tooperate as a web browser, allowing a user to enter information intoforms and select links to retrieve and view web pages. The media playerapplication 610 configures the UE 10 to retrieve and play audio oraudiovisual media. The Java applets 612 configure the UE 10 to providegames, utilities, and other functionality. A component 614 might providefunctionality related to the measurement of pilot signals.

The system described above may be implemented on any general-purposecomputer with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and networkthroughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it.FIG. 7 illustrates a typical, general-purpose computer system suitablefor implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The computersystem 580 includes a processor 582 (which may be referred to as acentral processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memorydevices including secondary storage 584, read only memory (ROM) 586,random access memory (RAM) 588, input/output (I/O) devices 590, andnetwork connectivity devices 592. The processor may be implemented asone or more CPU chips.

The secondary storage 584 is typically comprised of one or more diskdrives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data andas an over-flow data storage device if RAM 588 is not large enough tohold all working data. Secondary storage 584 may be used to storeprograms which are loaded into RAM 588 when such programs are selectedfor execution. The ROM 586 is used to store instructions and perhapsdata which are read during program execution. ROM 586 is a non-volatilememory device which typically has a small memory capacity relative tothe larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM 588 is used tostore volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to bothROM 586 and RAM 588 is typically faster than to secondary storage 584.

I/O devices 590 may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches,dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tapereaders, or other well-known input devices.

The network connectivity devices 592 may take the form of modems, modembanks, ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards,serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface(FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radiotransceiver cards such as code division multiple access (CDMA) and/orglobal system for mobile communications (GSM) radio transceiver cards,and other well-known network devices. These network connectivity devices592 may enable the processor 582 to communicate with an Internet or oneor more intranets. With such a network connection, it is contemplatedthat the processor 582 might receive information from the network, ormight output information to the network in the course of performing theabove-described method steps. Such information, which is oftenrepresented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using processor582, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, inthe form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave. Thenetwork connectivity devices 592 may also include one or moretransmitter and receivers for wirelessly or otherwise transmitting andreceiving signal as are well know to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executedusing processor 582 for example, may be received from and outputted tothe network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signalor signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signalembodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivitydevices 592 may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors,in coaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for example opticalfiber, or in the air or free space. The information contained in thebaseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be orderedaccording to different sequences, as may be desirable for eitherprocessing or generating the information or transmitting or receivingthe information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrierwave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed,referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generatedaccording to several methods well known to one skilled in the art.

The processor 582 executes instructions, codes, computer programs,scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk(these various disk based systems may all be considered secondarystorage 584), ROM 586, RAM 588, or the network connectivity devices 592.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled orcommunicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicatingthrough some interface, device, or intermediate component, whetherelectrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes,substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in theart and could be made without departing from the spirit and scopedisclosed herein.

1. A network, comprising one or more processors configured to: define a gap pattern usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology; and transmit, to a user equipment, information of the gap pattern.
 2. The network of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive, from the user equipment, a request to define the gap pattern.
 3. The network of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to direct the user equipment to use a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.
 4. The network of claim 1, wherein the microtechnology comprises one of: a Wireless Fidelity network; a wireless local access network using a home base station; a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and a Wireless Local Area Network; and wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of: a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network.
 5. A method comprising: defining a gap pattern usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology; transmitting information of the gap pattern from a network to a user equipment; and using the gap pattern at the user equipment for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement and microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein defining the gap pattern is based on a request from the user equipment.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: using a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the microtechnology comprises one of: a Wireless Fidelity network; a wireless local access network using a home base station; a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and a Wireless Local Area Network; and wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of: a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network.
 9. A user equipment comprising one or more processors configured to: receive information of a gap pattern from a network, wherein the gap pattern is usable by a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies includes a microtechnology and a macrotechnology; and use the gap pattern for microtechnology-based signal strength measurement and macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement.
 10. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to send a request to generate a gap pattern usable by the plurality of radio access technologies.
 11. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: use a gap previously designated for macrotechnology-based signal strength measurement to perform microtechnology-based signal strength measurement.
 12. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the microtechnology comprises one of: a Wireless Fidelity network; a wireless local access network using a home base station; a wireless local access network using a home Enhanced Node B; and a Wireless Local Area Network; and wherein the macrotechnology comprises one of: a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; a Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) network; a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 network; a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network; a GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; and a 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network. 